Employment up year-over-year, slips from July

Figures released by the Surface Transportation Board show Class I railroads employed 163,420 people in mid-August, up 0.45% from August 2012, but down 536 people, or 0.33%, from the previous month of July.

August's top gaining category was Transportation (other than train and engine), up 1.6%, followed closely by Transportation (train and engine), up an almost identical 1.59%. Also gaining: Professional and administrative, up 0.49%, and Executives, officials, and staff assistants, up 0.43%.

Maintenance of equipment and stores saw the sharpest decline year-over-year, down 1.12%, while Maintenance of way and structures also slipped, down 0.5%.

By contrast, all six categories retreated in mid-August from mid-July levels. Professional and Administrative led the pack here, down 0.84%, followed by Maintenance of way and structures, down 0.68%. Maintenance of equipment and stores fell 0.37; Executives, officials, and staff assistants declined 0.33%; Transportation (other than train and engine) fell 0.12%, and Transportation (train and engine), almost broke even, down 0.02%.